Rope-clamp.



R. E. GI'LUBE'IR.Vv

ROPE CLAMP. APPLICATION FILED APR. 17. 1912.

Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

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erica RALPH E. GRBER, 0F OROVILLE, CALIFORNA.

Born-CLAMP.

specificati@ of Letters rat-ent. I Patented Aug. 12,1913.

Application led April 17, 1912. Serial No. 691,3/43.

To all whom it may concern: w

Be it known that I, RALPH GRUBER, a citizen of the United States, reslding at Oroville, in the county of Butte and State of' The object of the present invention is to' provide a reliable, powerful and efficient device for clamping a plurality of strands of rope, cable, and for other applications, the particular object of the invention being to evolve and devise a rope clamp of a minimum number of parts, the design of which is simple, the main clamping elements being interchangeable and duplicate in struct-ure.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an end view of the clamp. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the clamp., Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the clamping aws. 1

In its illustrated embodiment the invention comprises a jaw or clamp member 2.

which is substantially rectangular in plan view and is transversely perforated as at 3, for the reception of a bolt or other equivalent device; one side of the clamp member 2 being provided with a pair of projecting points or prongs as at 4, centrally between which is formed a channel or way 5. 0n the opposite end of the clamp member 2 and on the same side with the prongs or points 4, is located a single central prong or projection 6, on opposite sides of which the member is chamfered away as at 7 The channel way 5 is inclined at its bottom portion from the surface on which the prongs are formed, at an inclination toward the opposite flat surface of the clamp membei' or clamp piece 2; the length of the end S of the several prongs are substantially at a right angle from the body of the member or clamp piece 2; the length of the end walls or surfaces 8 of the prongs being such that when two of the clamp members 2 are assembled so that the central prong 6 of one will project into the central channel 5 of the other, and the end prongs 4 straddle the Central prong 6 of the opposing clamp member, these latter are then firmly prevented from .having relative lateral movement, and the several prongs 4 and 6 are formed with curved surfaces `9^running from adjacent the tips of the points or prongs, downwardly toward the central portion of the body of the clamp 2. Thus when two clamp sections have been assembled and interregistered so that the prongs project into. the opposite depressions in the opposing members 2, there will be formed between the central portion of the clamps a transverse chalnber 10, the ends of which con- /verge; the central portion of the 'chamber being crossed by a bolt 11, passed through the`apertures 3 of the clamp membe/rs 2, the head 12 vof the bolt resting on the flat surface of one of the clamp members 2 and the threaded portion of the bolt projecting through one of the clamp members against which may be screwed a nut 13. The chamber 10 is thus substantially divided, centrally, by the bolt l1 into two portions to receive rods, cables or ropes, which will rest `partly against the body of the bolt, and partly upon the central prongs 6, and when the nut 13 is screwed downwardly, the several prongs being further drawn together will `cause the cables or ropes to slightly bend over the central prongs 6, the force of the side prong 4C depressing the cables into the chamfered corners 7 and into the channels 5. This forms a particularly efficient form of clutch or clamp by which two strands of rope or cable may be firmly held relatively against slipping. In order .to prevent the cutting of the rope or cable being clamped, the corners of the prongs 4 and 6 are rounded as shown at 14:, so that no sharp edges are presented over which the cable or rope would bend, and it is manifest that by drawing the opposed inter-locked clamp members 2 closer together that smaller cables can be embraced. If large cables or ropes are being clamped, the relative distance between the clamp members 2 will be comparatively great, and for each different size cable or rope to be clamped, the clamp members 2 will accordingly approach or separate.

Since the clamp members 2 are duplicate in structure they are manifestly interchangeable, and may be readily renewed in case of breakage, and the clamp members may be sold in quantities or singly without the bolts 11, since these may be an ordinary stock article, and users of the clamp being frequently provided with bolts of the required size simply have to purchase the clamp members and may then readily aS- seinble the device. The bolt is large and can be screwed very tight without injury to the threads. The inside of the clamp where the rope is held fast is made in such a shape as to bend the cable slightly by retaining its shape when bolt is screwed Very tight, this tends to give the clamp a greater gripping capacity. There being but one nut to screw, it is possible to use a large wrench without interference.

This clamp can be applied to cables quicker than other makes of clamps and can also be released quicker and easier.

All the above mentioned features this clamp has above other makes will save time, labor and money for the reason that it is not necessary to carry a stock of clamps for different size lines used.

`standing in line with the space between the pair of projections, whereby a single projection on one member will enter the space between the pair of projections of another member, and means for securing the members 1n operative relation, each of said members having the bottom of the space between the pair of projections and the portion upon ing a pair of projections formed at one end .portion and a single projection at the opposite end portion, said pair of projections being spaced apart and said single projection standing in line with the space between the pair of projections, whereby a single projection on one `member will enter the space between thepair of projections of another member and means for securing the members` in operative relation, each of said members having the bottom of the space between the pairpf projections and the portion upon each side of the single projection inclined in opposite directions, and said projections having outer surfaces inclining, from the tips toward the central portion o. the member.

In testimony whereof'lf have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. RALPH E. GRUBER.

Witnesses M. P. MARTIN, A. M. TowNsEND. 

